Recently Purchased A Model 3A

[psychlops]

I recently bought a Burgundy Mist Charvel Model 3A with original case for $299. I don't know if that was a good deal or not but I've always wanted a 2 hum Charvel. I've been looking for a cobalt blue model 5 for ages now but for now I'll settle for the model 3a. The only downside is that I've got to take the guitar to my local guitar guy and have him tweak the neck. I replaced the original tremelo and installed another tremelo unit [which I took out of my Jackson dinky xl] and the strings are fretting out big time [the strings are literally laying on the frets]. I knew that the "new" tremelo I installed would need to be adjusted but damn I don't want the trem to be a 1/2 inch off the body. I Don't know. And what the fuhk I just realized that maybe this thread should go on the tech q and a sector. Oh well.

Todd

[VitaminG]

the bridge you've put on there is from a guitar with a recessed trem. The block underneath the trem will be too short for the Model 3A, as its trem was non-recessed. You can get around this by swapping the short block on the trem for a longer one, better suited to this application.

If you want the trem to sit on the face of the guitar, you may need to shim the neck. Placing a piece of card or something similar on the headstock end of the neck pocket will help tilt the neck forward so that you can lower the trem.

Otherwise, get used to having the trem floating above the face of the guitar! That's how these old guitars were made

The neck pocket is cut so that the neck sits at more of an angle than you'd be used to from your Dinky XL, to allow for the non-recessed trem.

[straycat]

What are you going to do with the neck on the dinkyXL?Hint Hint!!!

[jrnic]

That's exactly the way it is on my Model 2. It's got a non-recessed trem and the neck is angled down, where as on my Model 375, it's got a recessed trem and the neck is parallel with the body.

I don't know, but I think the Model 2 is more comfortable to play because of the neck angle. Maybe I'm crazy, but I played mostly Gibsons and Epis before I got my Charvels and maybe I'm used to that angled neck!

[Cory]

Yeah, I hear ya Jrnic..I love em that way too.